In the late afternoon of a Thursday in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the life of 38-year-old Susan Marie Gonzalez was tragically cut short. On December 12, 2024, she was found deceased inside a room at the Hometown Studios on Mobile Drive. Gonzalez, a Hispanic female, was discovered alongside another victim, 32-year-old Sherman Armand Sims. Both had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The events leading to the discovery began to unfold around 3:45 p.m.
when the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office received a distress call. The caller, later identified as 30-year-old Kayla Michelle Benton, reported that she had shot two people. Upon their arrival, deputies found the grim scene in the motel room. The investigation that followed revealed a volatile situation had been brewing in the 24 hours prior to the shooting. Gonzalez, Sims, and Benton, who were all acquainted and lived in the same motel, had been together during that time. The interactions were marked by several verbal and physical altercations, with alcohol being a contributing factor.
Kayla Michelle Benton was taken into custody and questioned by investigators. While she attempted to claim self-defense, authorities stated that the evidence contradicted her account. Subsequently, Benton was arrested and faced a series of serious charges, including two counts of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Following her arrest, she was denied bond and is being held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center. The investigation into the double homicide is ongoing.
